TheSamba.com :: View topic - Flounder's 71 super vert nightmare restoration

Fri Jul 16, 2010 7:01 pm

This is my first attempt at this so feel free to correct me, give me advice ect. So here goes, my wife wanted a Bug Convertible, so I had the great idea of getting one and restoring one. So I found one an did a stupid thing and bought one before I knew anything about bugs. Here it is:

It looked good and I did not know better. When I got it home I found out I never should have got it! Here are some pictures why.....

The Framehead....:

I could go on with the pictures but you get my point. This was a little over a year ago, I have come a long way since then, so I will try to briefly document my journey.......... Any encouragement would be appreciated.

Fri Jul 16, 2010 7:07 pm

Rear Wheel Well:

Motor Area:

Front Support:

Fri Jul 16, 2010 7:29 pm

So here is what i have done so far:

1. I bought a donor car to replace the numerous rusted areas

2. I cut the car to pieces

3. Had the framehead replaced by John (The guy who restored the Bugs for the VW tv commercials)

4. Welded in new floorpans (WW very nice fit)

5. Had the chassis blasted then 2 coats Masterseries Silver, One coat Black

Coming up next what I did with the suspension.......

Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:24 pm

wow at the beginning of the thread i saw the rust pics and i was like this :shock: hahahha

but dam that thing is coming out pretty good

what are your plans for it? lower? keep stock?

Sat Jul 17, 2010 6:22 pm

My plans for the suspension will be to keep it stock for now, until I figure out if I can get the body to look ok. When I started everything was, you guessed it rusted. I disassembled eveything which was quite a chore here are some before pics...

I then blasted the parts I could, the rear arms were too far gone to be saved so I picked up a pair off ebay to replace them. I ordered a ton of parts from Topline and started to reassemble it.
The front struts

Front end completed

Completed Rear End

The next step will be to prep the heater channels, and cross braces from the donor car to be grafted onto the original body.......

Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:37 am

Get the MaXX Struts, you will be glad you did...

Also http://www.superbeetles.com/ is your friend.

I had a 71 vert some years ago. Good luck!

Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:57 am

I considered them when I got my parts, but I am trying to keep costs to a minimum until I am sure that I can actually complete the body. If all goes well with the body, I will then look into the MaXX struts, disc brakes, lowering at least the front, a huge built engine.........oh the plans, but for now I just need to make progress on the body!

Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:14 am

Dayum! I thought that was looking like a goner, but you've really pulled it back from the edge of disaster! Be mindful that there are a large number of additional braces, reinforcement rails and gussets that are unique to the convertible body. Make sure you retain them (or reproduce them) when you install those non-convertible heater channels and firewall, and you'll have a nice rigid finished car.

Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:45 am

R.E.S.P.E.C.T :)

Sun Jul 18, 2010 3:04 pm

You wearin your wife's Crocs? :D Good luck with the project man.

Sun Jul 18, 2010 3:12 pm

Actually they are mine, $5 down in Alabama on Spring Break, they make great garage schools, not so good for welding, (Ask me how I know) LOL

Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:24 pm

The heater channels from the donor were in fairly good shape. There was only 3 places that needed to be addressed. both sides of the front crossmember and on little area on the channel. so I cut out the area welded in donor metal. Then I had the entire thing blasted, two coats of Masterseries, then 2 coats of epoxy primer so that it will match my plans for the body. Any comments on the welding would be helpful, I am getting better, but I still do not think I am doing things just right.......

Bad metal cut out

Welding in new metal

Lots of Grinding, how does it look?

Blasted

Finally painted and on the Chassis

Well that is all for now, a year worth of work in 4 posts. I will post more as I make progress. Thanks for the comments so far. I have a ton more pictures posted on photobucket, just search for "floundermay"

Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:37 pm

It looks like you're determined to drag that beast back from the edge of the grave. GREAT JOB. Keep up the good work, and keep posting pics of the progress.

Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:00 am

I has been a long 4 years, moved, changed jobs so I have not made much progress till lately. so I will update over the next few posts. Here is the fat chick in her new home

Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:07 am

After cutting out the rusted bottom of the vert I am ready to transplant it onto the sedan bottom. Unfortunately my bracing did not help much so I ended separating the car into pieces to get things to line up (sorta)

Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:11 am

Replacing the a Pillars thanks to the donor car

Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:22 am

Basically the same for both sides

Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:34 am

What a nightmare! Again thank god for donor metal!

TOP ON FITS NICE!

Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:37 am

Starting to look like a car!

Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:42 am

Engine back in car to help fit panels

Rear apron on and welded

Somewhat complete looking rear end!